‘Ashamed!’ echoed the youth.  ’Of what?  There is nothing but me to be ashamed of, and what can I have done since yesterday?’

’No, Richard; I am not ashamed of you, but I am ashamed of—­of—­this way of meeting—­and—­and——­’

’Surely that is strange, when we can no more remember the day in which we have not met than that in which we met first!  No, dear Dorothy——­’

’It is not our meeting, Richard; and if you would but think as honestly as you speak, you would not require to lay upon me the burden of explanation.  It is this foolish way we have got into of late—­kissing hands—­and—­and—­always meeting by the old sun-dial, or in some other over-quiet spot.  Why do you not come to the house?  My mother would give you the same welcome as any time these last—­how many years, Richard?’

‘Are you quite sure of that, Dorothy?’

’Well—­I did fancy she spoke with something more of ceremony the last time you met.  But, consider, she has seen so much less of you of late.  Yet I am sure she has all but a mother’s love in her heart towards you.  For your mother was dear to her as her own soul.’

’I would it were so, Dorothy!  For then, perhaps, your mother would not shrink from being my mother too.  When we are married, Dorothy—­’

‘Married!’ exclaimed the girl.  ‘What of marrying, indeed!’ And she turned sideways from him with an indignant motion.  ‘Richard,’ she went on, after a marked and yet but momentary pause, for the youth had not had time to say a word, ’it has been very wrong in me to meet you after this fashion.  I know it now, for see what such things lead to!  If you knew it, you have done me wrong.’

‘Dearest Dorothy!’ exclaimed the youth, taking her hand again, of which this time she seemed hardly aware, ’did you not know from the very vanished first that I loved you with all my heart, and that to tell you so would have been to tell the sun that he shines warm at noon in midsummer?  And I did think you had a little—­something for me, Dorothy, your old playmate, that you did not give to every other acquaintance.  Think of the houses we have built and the caves we have dug together—­of our rabbits, and urchins, and pigeons, and peacocks!’

‘We are children no longer,’ returned Dorothy.  ’To behave as if we were would be to keep our eyes shut after we are awake.  I like you, Richard, you know; but why this—­where is the use of all this—­new sort of thing?  Come up with me to the house, where master Herbert is now talking to my mother in the large parlour.  The good man will be glad to see you.’

’I doubt it, Dorothy.  He and my father, as I am given to understand, think so differently in respect of affairs now pending betwixt the parliament and the king, that—­’

’It were more becoming, Richard, if the door of your lips opened to the king first, and let the parliament follow.’

‘Well said!’ returned the youth with a smile.  ’But let it be my excuse that I speak as I am wont to hear.’